Japanese word

でかい

Pronunciation

Romajidekai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivebig

Example

このかばんはでかいです。ko no ka ba n wa de ka i de su

This bag is big.

Illustration for でかい (big)

More examples

その箱は一人では運べないほどでかいです。so no bako wa hito ri de wa hako be na i ho do de ka i de su

The box is so big that one person cannot carry it.

Core concept

Describes something as noticeably large in size, often with a casual and emphatic tone.

Common phrases

  • でかい家de ka i ie

    a big house

  • でかい犬de ka i inu

    a big dog

  • でかい車de ka i kuruma

    a big car

Similar words

大きいōkii: Describes something as large in size in a standard, neutral way.

Definition in Japanese

物の大きさが目立って大きいさま。mono no ō ki sa ga me da tte ō ki i sa ma

Word origin

でかい (dekai, "big") is a colloquial Japanese adjective, and its deeper origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In casual conversation, でかい (dekai, "big") can describe a task or problem as large in scale, not only a physical object.

Other meanings

  • hugei-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • でかさdekasasizenoun

Word lists with this word